I am a proud American. Honored to be part of this living dream that is the envy of the world. From the start the founders understood that a truly free individual would have to endure inconvenience and offence to protect the liberty of others. They also understood that for an individual's personal liberty to be lasting the majority would sometimes also be forced to endure inconvenience and offence. The U.S, Constitution was framed the way it was to avoid social trends interfering with the master plan of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the individual. The term "America, the great experiment" was not coined because it copied what had gone before. For this nation to be remarkable for its difference the founders had to ensure the individual possessed as much clout as powerful groups, the government, and the law.

Today, the great experiment is under attack from the powerful people the individual was supposed to be protected from under the U.S. Constitution.

Paula Deen is the latest in a line of victims vilified for speaking honestly and openly, a right guaranteed her by the U.S. Constitution. She offended the progressive elite who are dedicated to mold "the experiment" with a twist of political correctness designed to stifle freedom of speech to only what is currently acceptable by political correctness supporters. The main stream media are not the only villains in this saga. Nor are the liberal do-gooders who often share the blame. We are all part to blame for allowing the abomination of political correctness to continue to endanger "the experiment" and our Constitution. The public are not the ones deciding what is politically correct, but are the ones unwittingly encouraging it.

The Salem witch trials of 1692 are now universally seen as a travesty when innocent individuals were branded by finger pointers to help overcome fears embedded in the community. People were unjustly sacrificed for the misguided good of the community. Even after the U.S. Constitution was framed, in 1954 a similar misguided witch-hunt was conducted during the McCarthy hearings and was also largely supported by the public. Nowadays, the witch-hunt has taken the more sinister and innocuous form of political correctness, conducted and encouraged by people driven by a similar social agenda witnessed in 1692 and 1954. As in the past, the Paula Deen witch-hunt has singled out a vulnerable victim with accusations of racism which like witchcraft and communist sympathies, is almost impossible to disprove. How can someone prove they are not a racist? The Salem witch trials and the later anti-communist blacklisting of innocent people were supported by a misguided public taken advantage of by a few unscrupulous radicals with a political agenda. This latest cry of racism is more of the same.

Paula Deen is a victim of people using racism to further their political agenda and power. Some may even celebrate her destruction.

It is all too easy to point the finger.

The mainstream media, political pundits, entertainment personalities, and the reams of political correct do-gooders supporting this latest witch-hunt, know what is happening to the unfortunate Ms. Deen, but are afraid to speak out for fear of being labeled the next victim. Business associates connected to Paula Deen's culinary enterprises are distancing themselves for the same reason, knowing that sacrificing Deen will avoid them also being labeled racist. Exactly what happened in 1692 and 1954.

Using the word "nigger" is undoubtedly offensive to a large group of people, is insensitive and an unnecessary use of the language, but like the U.S. Constitution recognizes, it is the price to be paid by individuals to protect freedom of speech for everyone. It is an unsavory word that apart from the offence it causes, punishes no one.

Using the word racist on the other hand, is more than an offensive slur, it can destroy a person's life, livelihood, and happiness without the possibility to prove it as false, as in the case of Paula Deen. A few years ago people's lives were destroyed after being accused by child counselors of molesting children. Innocent people were accused without proof, sent to jail and had their lives ruined, all with public support. Now it is racism tarnishing the innocent. Do we really want to do that?

What can be done to stop political radicals from maliciously labeling victims just to hurt them?

Racism has become a popular word to be used as a weapon. Unless a person admits to being a racist, which a few actually do, accusing someone of being one without proof is a blatant attempt to hurt them. When rumor mongering was popular, it was easy to cause hurt, but soon communities identified the culprits and rumors stopped. Accusations of racism will only work if people are duped into believing the lies. Also, by refusing to panda to accusations of racism in the same way that by refusing to support higher taxes without good reason makes those suggesting them much more thoughtful of the consequences. As a result, the media, the political pundits, the reams of do-gooders, and even business people will be more thoughtful before jumping on the bandwagon.

Joseph Welch said it best during the McCarthy hearings in 1954, "You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?"

Have we no sense of decency? This shameful raping of Paula Deen's life needs to stop now.

That's what I think. What do you think?

New road, same speed.

Tax paying motorists have just forked out untold millions building a new and improved Dalton Pike from Waterville School to Treasury Drive only to be restricted to the 45mph posted for the old two lane road. Posted speed limits are not an arbitrary decision made by some desk bound bureaucrat, they are scientifically calculated by road engineers based on preset criteria. As I understand the regulations, a community cannot enforce speed limits that do not reflect the intent of the criteria. It makes no sense restricting a four lane highway with turn lane to the same speed limit as a two lane road so maybe this is a case for further investigation. I hope the City of Cleveland will take this seriously.

What do you think?

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